MY RESEARCH

We also visited Bethune (photo on left) in the north of France. Bethune is reported to have been the birthplace of two of Hercule and Cecile's children. Unfortunately the archives were partially destroyed by a fire and the towns birth and baptsim records only start from circa. 1724.Our travels took us to Marcq and Guines near Calais. Guines used to be home to a protestant community. The protestant temple at Guines was the marriage and baptism venue for the Pruvost and le Fevre families. The temple no longer exists.

My du Preez ancestors in South Africa settled largely in the Drakenstein (later Paarl), Wellington and Stellenbosch. They eventually moved to Cape Town. I was fortunate in that I lived in Cape Town was able to visit the Cape Town Archives on a regular basis.In researching the du Preez male line, I discovered that we have British, German and Dutch ancestors in addition to our French ancestors. I decided to trace these other branches as well and was fortunate enough to be able to obtain copy documentation from the Netherlands, France and Belgium. I also obtained copy documentation from the Cape Town Archives in respect of the British and German families. I was not able to obtain copy documentation from the U.K. or Germany.My research undertaking grew into a much bigger project than I had anticipated. After putting pen to paper, we decided that I should turn the results of my research into a book. The book is in the process of being finalised and should be available from mid May 2012. My research included but was not limited to: (a) Visits to the Archives in Cape Town, Kortrjk (Belgium), Bethune (France), the Drakenstein Heemkring (Paarl) and other genealogical organisations both in Stellenbosch and Paris, France. (b) Visits to libraries in and around Cape Town, the National Library of South Africa (Cape Town) and the Protestant Library in Paris, France. (c) Meeting with representatives from Protestant organisations in Paris, France. (d) Contacting various Archives throughout France. (e) Contacting Archives in the Netherlands. (f) Numerous books on the French Huguenots. (g) Numerous websites.Book Title:GENEALOGY OF MY DU PREEZ FAMILY

Number of pages - 354 pages and 388 including index, references and maps.What does the book contain?1. I discovered numerous French families who were related to the parents of Hercule Despretz (snr born circa. 1645) These families were related to Hercule's mother. Through my research I "met" a distant French cousin and we have been corresponding. I discovered that he is the "recognised expert" on this particular branch of the family. Certain branches have been researched back to circa. 1495.2. I have included copy documentation which I received from various organisations in France to substantiate my findings.3. Cecile D'Athis' family was not forgotten. I traced her ancestors back to approximately 1590. I now have an extended family for her which includes her parents, sibling, aunts, uncles and grandparents. 4. The book also includes copy documentation in respect of her family.5. I have included copy documentation for my South African du Preez ancestors as well. I have tried to find documentation in respect of each generation down to my grandfather, Louis William Salisbury du Preez (the son of Charles Peter Bernardus du Preez and Jacoba Maria Georgina Roscoe).6. I have included the ancestry of the du Preez wives, from Marie le Fevre down to Sylvia Enid Biller, my grandmother (1903 - 1953).7. The ancestry of the du Preez wives include, amongst others, Bronkhorst, Boshouwer, Visser, Lambrecht, du Plessis, Therond, and le Fevre. I have researched these families and have included copy documentation in addition to ancestral charts which will show how we are related to these families.8. I have also included copy documentation that I received from the Netherlands in respect of our Dutch ancestry.9. I have included a dvd. This is to be used in conjunction with the book. It was not possible to print the ancestral charts which would explain (graphically) the ancestry of each generation. The charts were simply too large and could only be accommodated on a dvd. The dvd also includes information and some copy documentation relating to specific branches of certain families which, whilst not forming part of my direct line, may be of interest to others. I have also included two books on the dvd (both in pdf format) which I thought may be of interest to those researching their Huguenot ancestry. Also included in pdf format is a copy of the brochure from St Maartens Church, Kortrijk, Belgium. I have also included some home made movies of my du Preez family through the years, together with photographs from our personal du Preez albums.10. I have also included pdf books in respect of every du preez member of my immediate family. The book reflects how each one of us is descended from Hercule Despretz.

Availability:The book was released to me on Tuesday, 5th June 2012 and is now available. Only a limited quantity of books was printed to begin with and subsequent orders will be considered should the numbers call for another print run.

I have copies of the book with black and white maps and photographs at a price of ZAR 220,00 per copy and copies of the book with colour maps and photographs at a price of ZAR 250,00 per copy.

Should anyone be interested in finding out more about the book, please feel free to contact me, by either using the contact page above, or by emailing me at dupreezfamily@yahoo.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible..Thank you for visiting my site.RegardsElaine